The following is a survey of Australian racing tips for Saturday, February 15. The highlight of the day is the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (Race 7) at Flemington. The other Group races at Flemington and Randwick are also covered. More tips and previews will be added as they become available.
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Best bets
Flemington Race 8: No. 9 Katalin
Randwick Race 8: No. 1 Happy Clapper and No. 8 Alizee
Flemington
BetEasy – The Wolf’s Racing Tips:
Race 2, No.3 Red Heeler – 4 stars
Race 3, No.1 Mildred – 4 stars
Quaddie: 2,3,6,8,9,10/2/1,2,5,7,8,9/2,5,12
Race 5:
Alligator Blood
Race 7:
1. Nature Strip
2. Redzel
3. Loving Gaby
Betfair – Feature Race Reports:
Race 7:
Betting Confidence: Low
Back – #1 Redzel
Race 5: Alligator Blood
Race 7: Quinella: Nature Strip, Redzel
Race 8: Katalin
Race 5:
ALLIGATOR BLOOD (3) might have the advantages this time. There to stalk a gentle speed and tipping he is in front of Catalyst in the run. Can be a big advantage as we know he can run slick splits home and it’s going to take an outstanding performance to peg him back. CATALYST (1) has to carry the penalty and looks like spotting Alligator Run the favours in running. That said, he is a superstar in the making and his ratings in New Zealand point to him being every bit a match for the top colts in Australia. DALASAN (4) ties in with Alligator Blood from the spring where he was favourite in their two meetings. Warmed up nicely late on over 1200m first up and ready to fire in this. CHENIER (8) and SOUL PATCH (5) can race well first up but it would be a surprise if they could win such a hot race off a break.
Race 7:
Hard to look past NATURE STRIP (2) at 1000m and down the straight where he reeled off awesome splits to win the VRC Classic in a canter last time. Huge talent when he is on his game and he invariably is at Flemington. Has looked a Lightning winner from day one and think he will make the most of his chance. REDZEL (1) did knock him off fresh in the spring and is a Group One winner here. Tough and can make himself hard to beat. Three-year-olds are flying and LOVING GABY (7) may have her supporters due to that. Was no match for Nature Strip here in the spring but ran well. 1000m is probably short of her ideal trip. GYTRASH (4) can run well without surprising, but it would be a shock if he could win it.
Race 8:
KATALIN (9) comes here with big upside. She has been dominant in two wins to this point and looked a filly that could cut it in this class. Gets her chance to prove as much now. Just needs a good steer from the wide draw and has the right man in the saddle for that job. PRETTY BRAZEN (1) had a terrific spring and she’s the one that sets the standard for these based on her Sandown Guineas win. Like 1400m fresh for her. FASCINO (2) also went for a break on the back of a Group Two success over the mile and is tipped to run well. PARMIE (4) was stiff last time. Tougher now but has the fitness edge on a couple of they key chances. MEUSE (5) can land in a handy spot and has a chance given that.
Race 5:
1. Catalyst (5 stars)
3. Alligator Blood (4 stars)
8. Chenier (2 stars)
4. Dalasan (2 stars)
Race 7:
1. Redzel (5 stars)
2. Nature Strip (4 stars)
3. Despatch (2 stars)
4. Gytrash (2 stars)
Race 8:
7. Lunar Light (5 stars)
1. Pretty Brazen (4 stars)
2. Fascino (3 stars)
5. Meuse (3 stars)
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 5:
7 leads 6. DALASAN sat handy when he won the Danehill Stakes here. There was little between he and ALLIGATOR BLOOD when they clashed through spring, safe to say Alligator Blood has improved though, In fact, he looks to be getting better every time we see him! His Magic Millions win chasing a strong speed and racing away running fast overall time was outstanding. Speaking of outstanding, CATALYST, that was a brilliant return win in NZ, running a 32.9 last 600m. He continually runs amazing times/sectionals relative to older horses on the day. Can he give “Gator” 1kg and beat him? CHENIER next.
Selections: 1. Catalyst (top tip), 3. Alligator Blood, 4. Dalasan, 8. Chenier
Race 7:
NATURE STRIP is near unbeatable on his day. He would have given the immortal Black Caviar something to chase … I think her track record may be in danger today? LOVING GABY chased him home here in the VRC Sprint Classic in spring but needs to turn around a significant margin and I have to say, at 1000m, it’s advantage Nature Strip. TOFANE won well here in Spring beating the slick Pippie. REDZEL has a fabulous CV fresh and at 1000m. GYTRASH a place hope also.
Selections: 2. Nature Strip (best of the day), 7. Loving Gaby, 6. Tofane, 1. Redzel
Race 8:
Seven of the ten are last-start winners. SPEED: 5, 10 may lead with 2, 3, 4, 7 all capable of being handy. PRETTY BRAZEN won impressively fresh last prep then went on to beat the boys in a Sandown Guineas. Stablemates FASCINO and BONVICINI have both jumped out nicely for their return, there was nothing between them when they clashed in the Spring. LUNAR LIGHT and SWING AND BOOM are unbeaten this prep, the latter beat FEIGN last time, which ties in through PARMIE. Is that the right form? This KATALIN won like a good filly at Newcastle, producing dominant closing speed. She measures up, I fancy.
Selections: 9. Katalin (top tip), 3. Bonvicini, 2. Fascino, 1. Pretty Brazen
Race 5:
Catalyst (5 stars)
Alligator Blood (4 stars)
Dalasan (4 stars)
Race 7:
Nature Strip (5 stars)
Redzel (5 stars)
Loving Gaby (4 stars)
Race 8:
Katalin (5 stars)
Pretty Brazen (5 stars)
Fascino (4 stars)
Palmerbet – Horse Racing Tips & Previews:
Race 1: MOUNT TABORA
Race 2: RED HEELER
Race 3: MILDRED
Race 4: CLASSIC WEIWEI
Race 5: ALLIGATOR BLOOD
Race 6: TANIKO
Race 7: 1. NATURE STRIP, 2. Loving Gaby, 3. Redzel, 4. Gytrash
Race 8: PRETTY BRAZEN
Race 9: BLAZEJOWSKI
Morphettville
BetEasy – The Wolf’s Racing Tips:
Race 4, No.6 Dark Alley – BEST BET – 5 stars
Randwick
BetEasy – The Wolf’s Racing Tips:
Race 5, No.5 Desert Lord – 3.5 stars
Race 7, No.9 Sangria – 3.5 stars
Race 9, No.10 Dawn Dawn – each-way – 3.5 stars
Quaddie: 3,4,9/1,2,8,9,10/2,5,10,11/3,5,6,7,12
Race 8: Happy Clapper
Betfair – Feature Race Reports:
Race 7:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #4 Libertini
Race 8:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #8 Alizee
Race 5:
1. Jungle Edge (5 stars)
2. Cascadian (4 stars)
6. Special Reward (2 stars)
4. Ashlor (2 stars)
Race 7:
6. Akari (3 stars)
9. Sangria (3 stars)
1. Kiamichi (3 stars)
4. Libertini (3 stars)
Race 8:
1. Happy Clapper (5 stars)
8. Alizee (4 stars)
9. Verry Elleegant (2 stars)
3. Come Play With Me (2 stars)
Race 9:
1. Reelem In Ruby (3 stars)
2. Sweet Deal (3 stars)
13. Lashes (3 stars)
11. Seasons (3 stars)
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 5:
6, 4 and 1 sort out the front. Everybody’s favourite mudlark JUNGLE EDGE comes up to Sydney and nearly a foot and a half of rain has fallen up here since he won at Caulfield. Talk about things coming together! He is 0:3:1 from his last 7 in Sydney but one of those seconds was to Pierata on Heavy and he is 2:2:3 from 9 overall in Sydney on Heavy so it’s hard to see him running poorly. CASCADIAN has run well in good races to Soft 7 and ran on well to be beaten only 1L at 1200m first-up last prep. One sound trial. ASHLOR is a better galloper than eight consecutive unplaced runs suggests. SPECIAL REWARD on wet??
Selections: 1. Jungle Edge (top tip), 2. Cascadian, 4. Ashlor, 6. Special Reward
Race 7:
As is usually the case with this race, the majority (in fact all but a couple) resume and clearly there is real quality among the first-up group. LIBERTINI is high class and she has only had four horses beat her in her life (Bivouac, Exceedance, Funstar and Probabeel). It is notable that those defeats have been her three runs not on dry (all Soft 7). She draws widest and that may pose some problems, or maybe not! KIAMICH is the wet-tracker in the race but has some improving to do from last prep. The stable seems confident she can make that. And from the same stable FLIT is a good girl. Ideally wants further but that applies to a few of these.
Selections: 4. Libertini (top tip), 3. Flit, 1. Kiamichi, 2. Lyre
Race 8:
Most resume and have longer aims so we are left with a low tempo race here. 2 will lead 1. There are three main chances in my view, none of them hardened Heavy trackers, and then VERRY ELLEEGANT next best (who definitely is one). HAPPY CLAPPER has a Doncaster 2nd on Heavy and a 2nd to Winx so he is no slouch on the conditions. Runner-up to Winx in this race last year, I remain an ardent fan and the more wins he can cram into his twilight years the better. ALIZEE was solid in defeat first-up and that run under the belt may prove crucial for her. DREAMFORCE beat Te Akau Shark in the spring equivalent of this race. All 11 wins have come on Good ground but he has a placing to Winx on Heavy as well.
Selections 1. Happy Clapper (best of the day), 8. Alizee, 2. Dreamforce, 9. Verry Elleegant
Race 9:
Another race in which most resume (9 of 14 if they all show up.) I think 14 (dual acceptor) should try and lead. 9, 8, 11 and 13 can set up next in line. There’s a lot going on in the race but I’m with LASHES who has a liking for wet and race fitness on board after three runs back. Into a black type race is her challenge. REELEM IN RUBY has never run poorly so don’t expect her to here, even though she draws very wide. That could be OK as it turns out and I will have her as a winner for me. Could see POHUTUKAWA charging home pending a solid tempo. NOIRE and FIESTA have some quality about them and there’s also hopes to RESIN, CONNEMARA, DAWN DAWN. And it may not end there.
Selections: 13. Lashes (top tip), 1. Reelem In Ruby, 5. Pohutukawa, 6. Resin
Race 7:
Libertini (5 stars)
Flit (4 stars)
Kiamichi (5 stars)
Race 8:
Alizee (4 stars)
Dreamforce (3 stars)
Happy Clapper (5 stars)
Unibet – From the Trader’s Desk:
Race 3 #1 God Of Thunder – BEST BET
Race 5 #4 Ashlor – VALUE BET
Race 5 #6 Special Reward – LAY BET
Race 9 #1 Reelem In Ruby
Race 5: Special Reward
Race 7: Libertinni
Race 8: Happy Clapper
Race 9: Pohutukawa and Reelem In Ruby
Palmerbet – Horse Racing Tips & Previews:
Race 1: HARBOURING
Race 2: SHE’S IDEEL
Race 3: CORUSCATE
Race 4: DAME GISELLE
Race 5: ASHLOR
Race 6: WHITE BOOTS
Race 7: KIAMICHI
Race 8: ALIZEE
Race 9: REELEM IN RUBY
Race 10: ROHERYN